Mountain vistas, unique venues and romantic adventures await
BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA—FEBRUARY 2021—What could be more romantic than a North Georgia mountains wedding getaway combining breathtaking views, cozy comforts and luxury indulgences? Blue Ridge, Georgia, has all the boxes checked, and more. How about waterfalls, wineries and breweries, scenic rides by train or horseback? A picturesque, historic town with shopping and delicious dining? Wedding and honeymoon couples have been heading to Blue Ridge, Georgia, since 1886 when the railway led to the first North Georgia resorts.
Bordering the Chattahoochee National Forest, Blue Ridge is only 90 miles north of Atlanta via I-575 and an hour and a half from Chattanooga, Tennessee, on the Georgia-Tennessee-North Carolina line. It is often described as: outdoorsy yet luxurious, upscale but down-to-earth; fresh and historic resulting in a picture-perfect pre- and post-nuptials location.
Whether planning a ceremony with family and friends or a couples’ getaway, finding the right venue for the vows is fun and easy. From rustic outdoor/indoor spaces to luxurious lodges and a storybook mid-1700s Colonial village, there’s a location that fits every budget and style. Here are just six ideas in Blue Ridge and Fannin County, Georgia.
Willow Falls Resort & Wedding Venue
Say “I Do” encircled by 19 acres of woodlands and lush green spaces, overlooking a vineyard and peaceful lake with the Blue Ridge mountains as a backdrop. The setting is centered on a 3,700-square-foot lodge with a natural stone fireplace, hardwood floors, large cedar beams, 20-foot floor to ceiling windows and Arcadian doors opening to an outdoor space. The oversized patio includes lounge seating, a firepit and more. Up to 200 guests can be seated in the rustic yet modern indoor space. Free décor includes a triangular wedding arch, seasonal arrangements and vases, eucalyptus, ivy and other swags, candleholders, ribbon and other tasteful touches. On-site, four new cabins offer accommodation for up to 34 guests.
5 Star Lodge
Bring your own horse! Equestrians will appreciate this unique Western setting in Morganton, just 17 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge. Here, the lodge sits on 45 acres of lush forest and can sleep up to 24 guests, while the stables can take care of up to 18 horses. Horseback riding, tennis, basketball and skeet shooting are popular pre- and post-wedding pastimes. The lodge offers hot tubs, a large porch and large living areas. The wood and stone indoor/outdoor Moose Lodge Pavilion is the ceremony venue, overlooking an arched spot for the wedding party framed by a wide expanse of mountain scenery. A full caterer’s kitchen, grill area, themed “covered wagon” for serving food make this a fun and convenient choice.
INOLA Blue Ridge
Hidden in a mountain forest, down a long, dramatic drive lined with aged trees is an entire fairy tale village complete with replica shops and post office, a colonial manor house, a picturesque tavern and a jewel-box chapel. Behind the house are formal English gardens with a resident peacock strutting amidst the flowers. Built as a private estate by a visionary in the 1980s, the site offers two indoor and two outdoor event areas with a capacity of 90 or 250 guests, including an opulent air-conditioned and heated tent. Walk down the aisle of the historic church while two 1854 brass bells in the chapel’s tower ring out, followed by a reception in the quaint Wetherburn’s Tavern. Ceremonies can also be held in arbor gardens adjacent to the Wythe House, followed by a reception in a 6,000-square-foot, opulent, pavilion-style tent overlooking pasture land and Inola Sugar Lake. The Wythe House manor, modeled after the 1750s original Wythe House in Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg, is currently under renovation and will accommodate weddings, luxury sleeping for 24, a mega bridal suite and a well-appointed Groomsmen’s man cave complete with bar, wine cellar, pool table and humidor.
Aska Farms Of Blue Ridge
Set in a valley with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge mountains rising ahead, a turreted farmhouse manor greets guests with such elegance that one would never think it’s also a working horse and cattle farm. Aska Farms of Blue Ridge is located on a 27-acre private retreat complete with a charming old barn and winding creek. A magnificent manor house, patio, pool and pool house complex serves as accommodations and reception center. A short walk to a manicured knoll is the ceremony location overlooking the soaring mountains. This property boasts a a bridal suite, groom’s den, fully loaded kitchen and butler’s pantry. On the main floor is a luxurious master suite with a whirlpool tub and picturesque mountain views.
Those looking for a less-formal, more quaint and homey experience can find them in Blue Ridge and Fannin County. Here are just two options:
Daffodil Hill Farm & Carriage (2 to 30 people)
Celebrate love on a flower-filled mini-farm just five miles from Blue Ridge with mountain views, fainting goats, horses and chickens. Take a carriage ride pulled by Gypsy Vanner Cross horses before or after the ceremony. Better yet, take a preview, pop the question and photograph the proposal with engagement memories in this romantic setting. Providing for up to 30 guests, Daffodil Hill Farm & Carriage offers a mountain view prayer chapel inspired by one built in 1880 by the U.S. Army. An 80-foot, man-made waterfall and a cowboy barbecue/fire pit add to the ambience. The Carriage House Suite at Daffodil Hill Farm is at once quaint, cozy and comfortable, a spacious 2,300-square-foot luxury retreat. In the bedroom are antiques, a king-sized bed lavished with fine linens, a heated Jacuzzi and fireplace. The gourmet kitchen is stocked with farm fresh eggs and other breakfast favorites. weddings!
Cabins at Copperhill
Just across the border from McCaysville, Georgia, in Copperhill, Tennessee, are nine acres of wooded mountainside that are perfect for bohemian, country and earthy weddings of up to 100 people. The site is decorated with outdoor lighting, antique farm equipment and other charming details. The Lodge is 1,200-square-feet of rustic, modern styling with acid-stained concrete floors, a teak bar and a high-end audio system that enables guests to choose the music from their smartphones. Just outside the two large roll-up doors are Adirondack chairs and fire rings to gather around. The grounds include a volleyball court, horseshoe pit, a picnic area with picnic tables, a small stream and a stocked fishing pond. Four fully equipped log cabins and three glamping tents with hardwood floors, large queen beds and comfortable furniture accommodate up to 37 guests. The Cabins at Copperhill is just three miles from the Cherokee National Forest, and nine miles from the Ocoee Whitewater Center, offering plenty of outdoor activities before and after the ceremony.
Today’s sites are following Covid sanitation and safety guidelines. As more pandemic solutions evolve, and since couples typically plan their weddings a year or more in the future, larger venues may be considered.
SIDEBAR:
Top pre- and post-wedding activities in Blue Ridge and Fannin County
From adrenaline-rush to serenely scenic, Blue Ridge offers wedding guests and honeymoon couples plenty to do before and after the ceremony. Among the most romantic outdoor attractions:
Raise a Toast. Fannin County offers plenty of options for a glass of wine or a pint of beer. Spend several days exploring two wineries, four craft breweries and a farm that presses hard cider from its orchards. Bear Claw Vineyards delights with views of the mountains, the vineyards and unique and romantic treehouse accommodations. Nearby are even more wineries and a distillery. Drinking responsibly is easy with a taxi service and a wine tour service. www.BlueRidgeMountains.com/restaurants/breweries-wineries
Hit the Trails. More than 300 miles of hiking trails of Fannin County include some of the most legendary in the United States, including the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail. Bicyclists and hikers are drawn to the Aska Adventure Area, which is mapped out with a range of difficulty levels from easy-moderate to very strenuous along trails of one to six miles. Some trails climb to over 3,000 feet; some offer creek crossings and vistas.
Some of those trails lead to waterfalls. The easiest hike is a 30-minute roundtrip to Fall Branch Falls featuring a double waterfall with mountain laurel and rhododendron flanking the trail and creek bank. The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge is popular with day hikers and photography buffs, as it’s surrounded with old-growth hemlock trees above white water and shoals. One hiking trail runs along the shores of Lake Blue Ridge, where locals and visitors can dine at Boat Dock Bar & Grill and rent pontoon boats, kayaks and other watercraft at Blue Ridge Marina. Other wedding parties hit the trails on horseback. Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides at Hell’s Hollow offers views of the Cohutta Mountains. Bring a picnic to enjoy by a woodlands stream on the property and revel in the quiet mountain wilderness.
Ride the Rails. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway departs from the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge. The four-hour, 26-mile round-trip in comfortable vintage cars and open-air carriages includes dreamy views of the mountains and the Toccoa River. During the two-hour layover, explore charming McCaysville, Georgia, and its sister town of Copperhill, Tennessee. Favorite pastimes are unique shopping at the Riverwalk, dining, sipping and snacking, along with taking selfies at the Blue Line where the two states meet. (Note: check hours; train is seasonal)
Add an Adrenaline Rush. Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge offers multiple ziplines ranging from 150 to 1,000-feet in length and ranging from 25 to 75-feet in height through a mile of mountain scenery. For a real workout, take on an obstacle challenge course at its sister facility, Blue Ridge Adventure Park, where suspended bridges, tightropes, climbing walls and ziplines are designed for every age and ability.
Soothe the Senses. Blue Ridge and Fannin County offer more than 15 centers for beauty, fitness and wellness, including day spas, salons for wedding party perfection, Crossfit, yoga, herbal therapy and more. www.BlueRidgeMountains.com/things-to-do/spas-wellness
Where to Stay. In addition to accommodations at many of the wedding venues, plenty of getaway stays are nestled throughout Fannin County, many with names that perfectly spell out their promise—like Mountain Top Cabin Rentals, Southern Comfort, A River Runs Through It, Escape to Blue Ridge. Some are privately owned, others are professionally managed so that it’s possible to rent several adjacent cabins for wedding parties with just one phone call. Even the flagship chain hotels like Comfort Inn & Suites offer mountain views. The new, lodge-styled Hampton Inn Downtown, opening spring of 2021, has views of downtown and the Blue Ridge mountains, enhanced by a rooftop bar and restaurant.
Among the unique properties are Mountain Caboose Lodge, with a house sleeping up to 10 and a bunkhouse caboose for up to three guests. The luxury lodge with multiple upscale kitchens, nooks and hangouts sits on over four acres of wooded mountainside in the Aska Adventure Area, adjacent to the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Park. Serenity Luxury Suites at Serenity in the Mountains Spa makes it possible to fall right into bed after massages and treatments. The lodge-like one- to three-bedroom units come with fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, full kitchens and oversized tile showers. For a full list of accommodations, including camping, go to www.BlueRidgeMountains.com/where-to-stay